by Jasmine | Mar 28, 2012 | Couples Retreat, Couples Yoga, Date Night, Family Counseling
Marriage Retreats in PA
For those looking for a marriage retreat in PA near Philadelphia there are so many beautiful locations within a short drive or train ride such as the Poconos.
Here are the factors you want to consider.
Distance – Do you want something that is convenient and just an hour or two drive away? Are you looking for something more remote that might end up being more affordable? Are you able to leave for your retreat at a time that you won’t get stuck in rush hour? Nothing kills googly eyes and coo-ing sounds like a bad traffic jam
Activities – Do you want to be really active with hiking, biking, yoga or swimming or are you content to just lounge around a fireplace and sleep until noon? Do you want the retreat to be structured with speakers and group workshops or do you want to be more independent and spontaneous. If it is a marriage retreat you will want to find plenty of activities that you will want to do together and not just go off and he is fishing the whole time while you are taking pilates classes.
Cost – Are you looking for something that is luxurious and not as conscious about saving money or do you need something that is more wallet-friendly? If you are more budget conscious then you can start subscribing to lists like Groupon or Living Social and see what kind of travel deals they have.
If you are more particular about a certain area or property then you can monitor terms like “Marriage Retreat PA” or “Poconos Getaway” on twitter alerts so that anytime this term gets mentioned on social media (often that happens because there is some kind of discount or offer involved) you will get these delivered to your inbox as one message instead of having to search for them every day.) I used this tactic when we were traveling to Las Vegas and was looking to see if there were any discounts that were being offered.
Adult Only – Are you looking to get away from the kids and want peace and quiet or are you going to bring the kids along and need lots of kid-friendly activities like swimming and arts and crafts? Is there child-care services on premises so that you can leave the noisy ones with them as the two of you have your couple time?
Amenities– Are you looking for something luxurious with all touches likes mints on your pillows or is something rustic and cozy (which will also mean lower-cost) more up your alley? Do you have to be at a place that has WIFI so you can stay connected or do you want to be unplugged and unbothered?
Couples Retreats in PA near Philadelphia
Weather – If the retreat is at a remote location, then you’ll have to factor bad weather ( especially in winter) could hinder your plans. Find out about how good or bad the roads are as well as the refund policy in case of inclement weather. If you are going in the middle of summer are there activities like swimming or classes indoors in case it gets too intense to hike around in 95 heat with humidity that feels like a wet blanket? If it is in the middle of winter, then make sure there are plenty of fun indoors activities so you don’t just feel like you have cabin fever.
Jasmine Kaloudis teaches many budget couples retreats near Philadelphia as well as romantic poses for couples and is the author of the best spiritual websites list.
by Jasmine | Mar 20, 2012 | Couples Yoga, Date Night
Relationship Questions For Couples
What romantic couples questions before marriage did you ask your significant other?
What do you think would have happened with Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries if they had asked each other more in depth questions about the kind of lifestyle they wanted to have together? They didn’t even talk about such basic things such as where they were going to live and what was going to happen to Kim’s career once they started to have children. Do you think it would have ended after those fateful 72 days if they had just not been blinded by the $18 million wedding extravaganza and concentrated more on their future marriage instead of just their wedding?
Conversation Questions for Couples
Kim K has taken a lot of heat for having such a casual marriage but she is really a mirror or what many of us find at fault in our own relationships. Most of us won’t think of the hard questions that have to do with things such as money, career, raising children, in-laws, religion, where to live, how to vacation, food and diet, what inspires us and what scares us before marriage.
So what romantic couples questions did you ask your significant other when you were first getting to know each other? Besides all the obvious small talk questions were you able to dive in and ask other questions?
Relationship Questions For Couples
How To Use the Questions for Couples
You need to use a certain amount of wisdom with these 1,000 questions. Someone who has just begun dating shouldn’t accelerate the relationship by starting off with questions on marriage and sex. If you don’t think you and your partner are quite ready to commit to one another, it would be best to start off with the questions on personality, your past experiences, favorites and perhaps pets. The best relationships are built on a solid friendship, so first address the questions that will help build that base.
Some people will want to answer four or five questions in a sitting. Others might like to spend several hours and answer 50 or more. Some people will want to put the questions in letters and mail them to each other on the same day so their answers don’t influence each other’s. Those with computers might find email to be a good way to get to know each other (and even keep the emails for future reference).
Here are samples of questions to ask before marriage.
What sort of reaction do you have when you get very upset?
Is there anything that makes you feel homesick, nostalgic or sentimental?
1,000 Questions for Couples
Do you have an idol? Do you try to model yourself after him or her in some way?
Do you think that you are able to calmly and wisely react in emergencies?
Do you take your pets with you on short trips? Long vacations? Do you put them in a kennel or have a friend watch them?
Do you generally make to-do lists? Would you like it or would you be offended if your mate helped you make a to-do list?
How do you think I could enjoy life more?
What do you like most about my personality?
How do you feel about pets being in the bedroom or sleeping on your bed?
What is your favorite ethnic cuisine?
Do you remember what your favorite childhood books were?
What makes you feel important?
How would you rate your maturity level among your peers?What are some examples of emergencies you have had?
Do you like your first name? Have you ever wished you had a different name? What name would it be?
Do you ever think that your partner gives more time, love and affection to a child or pet and does it makes you jealous?
Which do you think should have the final say in decisions – logic or emotions? Why?
In what circumstances do you feel most at peace?
How do you think I handle myself when I’m in a crisis situation?Do you have a dream that repeats itself again and again? What is it?
================================================
For free articles about yoga mailed once a month, email info at synergybyjasmine dot com with “Request Yoga Tips” in headline.
Jasmine Kaloudis teaches many marriage retreats near Philadelphia as well as romantic poses for couples and is the author of the best spiritual websites list.
Romantic questions for a future husband or wife
by Jasmine | Mar 17, 2012 | Couples Yoga, eStore, Partner Yoga, Reviews, Yoga DVDs, & Podcasts
Couples Yoga Moves for Beginners or Seasoned Yogis
Couple Yoga DVDs and Book Reviews for Buoyant Bonding
Couples Yoga is a wholesome way to learn surrender, build trust, and deepen intimacy. If you have never done partner yoga before, it is both meaningful and playful, and students say that they feel more open-hearted and can lead to a better sex life. To find a class suitable for your fitness and body type, make sure to ask the teacher before-hand if previous yoga experience is required and if the poses are physically challenging and suitable if you are unathletic and out of shape.
Some poses challenge your balance and strength. Others require your total trust and surrender. Some exercises and breathing techniques uses the power of the partnership. Partners can often achieve more than if they were practicing alone. These creative and sensual practices will add both tenderness and power to your relationship. This yoga style requires no special equipment and can be done in any open space.
Since it is not always easy to find a couples yoga class or maybe you or your partner is embarrassed to practice in front of strangers, you can also explore doing these couples yoga dvds and books.
Make sure to set the scene before. Send the kids to grandma and grandpa’s for the night. Turn off your cell phones. Set up soothing music, frangrant candles or incense etc. Avoid eating a heavy meal before… no lasagne or cheesecake for dinner. Opt for something light and easy to digest like a grilled chicken salad.
Together–The Art of Partnered Yoga
This couples yoga DVD is not suitable for yoga beginners as some of the poses are more advanced and there is not much for explanation for the poses. They do the poses quite quickly without much explanation. I do like how there are two options to do the practice – with their explanations and one without, so you can just follow along without hearing their voice. Ideal for a seasoned yoga practitioner but not for yoga newbies. However this is a beautiful workout and very much worth it especially for those who are in a relationship and already practicing traditional yoga together on a regular basis.
Sexy Yoga: 40 Poses for Mindblowing Sex and Greater Intimacy
First revealed over 2,000 years ago in the Kama Sutra, the link between yoga and sex has been generally recognized but widely ignored – until now. In Sexy Yoga, Ellen Barrett, popular author and instructor for New York’s Crunch studios, offers the modern yoga student a specific program designed to transform and heighten pleasure in sex and lovemaking.
Barrett’s program includes a series of asanas (postures) that use yoga’s combination of movement, breathing, and focus to release sexual power. Sensual, erotic, and guaranteed to improve sexual performance, the poses are also designed to improve one’s ability to navigate both the physical and emotional demands of intimacy. Rooted in the rich tradition of yoga but far from an esoteric Indian practice, the program in this book is suitable for everyone from new students to experienced yoga practitioners. Not for prudes though.
Yoga Two-gether
This wasn’t filmed in a big fancy Hollywood set but don’t let the production diminish how much joy you will get from this yoga for couples DVD. Sometimes it is hard to hear the teacher with the background noise. Not for beginners because he does not describe in enough detail for the newbie. It is probably great for experienced yogis though. The asanas create a bond between partners that facilitates strength, flexibility, intimacy, and trust. Two people flow together from one yoga pose to another, in a sequence of more than 60 poses. The teacher incorporates a full range of postures, including forward folds, back bends, twists, side bends, standing poses, sitting poses, and even inversions ( going upside down).
Partner Yoga – Making Contact for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Growth
With their 30 years of combined experience in yoga, medicine, fitness, dance, the martial arts, and music, Cain Carroll and Lori Kimata, N.D., have developed a practice that blends mutually beneficial postures, conscious breathing, trust, communication and playfulness.
The 60 dynamic postures and 3 yoga flows introduced in this book offer a threshold into a provocative and exciting yoga experience. Developed with reverence for the ancient tradition of yoga, these beautiful postures are designed to help improve balance, strength, and flexibility as well as increase the level of trust and communication between you and your partner.
Tantric Yoga for Lovers by Steve & Lokita Carter
This titilating DVD offers easy-to-learn yoga routines for lovers to increase the flow of sexual energy, develop a regular practice for toning your bodies, and balance body mind and spirit – in and out of the bedroom. Sensually filmed, they are fully clothes but this is also not for prudes. The music is quite erotically charged with pulsing drum beats.
The DVD contains three segments:
What is the Breath of Tantric Love?
Demonstration and explanation
Intimacy Spa – Sensual Yoga for Couples
The video is good, but not until the end do you actually get to the practicing. If you have done a lot of yoga already, only the last part of this video will be good for you. Though, the beginning was a good review for the avid Yoga enthusiast. This is a worthwhile program for sharing yoga with a loved one whether you are a novice or a long-time devotee. Some of the scenes are with them doing no clothing so this tape is not for prudes. Beautifully shot, especially the postures filmed on a gorgeous stretch of waterfront. Several of the chapters give you the option of learning or practicing positions with either verbal instructions over video or written instructions over still photos… a great touch and nice tool for going at your own pace.
Lovers’ Yoga: Soothing Stretches for Two
Darrin Zeer knows it takes two to tango and two to yoga. His latest book, Lovers’ Yoga, shows how easy it is for couples to indulge in nurturing, soothing partner exercises to relax, rejuvenate, and create deep, lasting bonds. Delightfully illustrated, this little handbook outlines 60 surprisingly simple stretches organized into five chapters Playful, Powerful, Peaceful, Patient, and Passionate. The exercises build on one another, so couples can indulge in one stretch, a chapter sequence, or the entire book from beginning to end. Whether time allows for a few minutes or a few hours, Previous yoga experience is helpful but not required to do this poses.
Intimate Yoga for Couples
Learn about the benefits of deep breathing and explore the chakras, solo positions and romantic partner positions with this couples yoga DVD. Over 270 color photographs, artful sequencing and easy to follow instructions will appeal to both novice and seasoned practitioner. With 20 years of experience as a yoga instructor and massage therapist, author Mishabae believes that if you take the practices in this book off the mat and into your lovemaking, the experience of great sex can be yours to share, nurture and expand upon. There are plenty of tantra yoga pics with naked people which makes this look like a kama sutra kind of book. Not for prudes.
Yoga for Partners: Over 75 Postures to Do Together
Yoga for Partners features dozens of inspiring photos of the paired asanas. It teaches each partner how to synchronize their movements and breathing, bringing new lightness and enjoyment to any yoga practice. Following a brief introduction, 75 two-page spreads offer a full-page photo accompanied by positioning tips, a short commentary on the benefits of the posture, and advice on breathing techniques and proper focus. Sensually photographed, many of the poses are not ideal for beginners but recommended for seasoned yoga practitioners of if you are athletic.
The Pleasures and Principles of Partner Yoga
Presents simple to advanced partner and group practices that are ideal for those with or without prior yoga experience. Over three hundred beautiful, unique photographs and illustrations demonstrating over sixty practices. Elysabeth Williamson has studied and practiced Yoga for more than thirty years. She has taught a unique synthesis of various traditions of Yoga for eighteen years. She frequently does workshops at places like Kripalu and had quite a few youtube videos on how to do many of the sequences. Suitable for friends as well as couples.
Dana Rae Pare’s Partner Yoga
Dana Rae Paré’s soothing voice guides you through a series of yoga poses and innovative stretches for you and your partner. With Partner Yoga you’ll receive all the physical benefits of yoga (increased strength, stamina & flexibility) as well as learning how to give, receive, trust and support your partner. What happens on the yoga mat can transcend into your personal life bringing vitality, joy and peace.
Couple Yoga DVDs and Book Reviews
Couples Yoga is a wholesome way to learn surrender, build trust, and deepen intimacy.
Written by: Mishabae, Ellen Barrett, Cain Carroll and Lori Kimata, Cain Carroll
Date published: 03/04/2012
Available inPaperbackHardcover
by Jasmine | Mar 6, 2012 | Couples Retreat, Couples Yoga, Date Night, Romantic Date Ideas, Spirituality
Looking for Yoga and Retreats near Philadelphia, NJ or PA?
There are so many areas of natural beauty in the surrounding countryside of the Philly Metro Area. West Chester, Lancaster County and Chester County all have
Scenic trails at Tenemos Retreat Center
beautiful rolling hills where you can enjoy the stillness of nature and ponder and contemplate. There is something very revitalizing about being in the stillness of nature. It actually recharges you to be surrounded by the oxygen that trees produce. Have you ever noticed how just being near a waterfall invigorates you? That is because there are tons of negative ions that are produced when there is a waterfall and also just before a rainstorm? This actually has many proven health benefits and some electric air purifiers use this ionization technology to cleanse the air in your home.
Before you go on a retreat make sure what is included in the cost. Is food, snacks, drinks included? Do you have to bring your own yoga mats, blankets and other props? Is it really luxurious like the Four Seasons or is it bare bones and rustic? What will happen in the case of inclement weather? Can you reschedule or do you get a refund? What is the refund policy in case an emergency comes up or you get sick? How easy or difficult is the retreat to find? Are you able to find it on your GPS? You always should print out a map before driving out in the countryside to a retreat since a GPS doesn’t always track it correctly and you might not get cell phone coverage way out in the boondocks.
Fire-side snuggling at Tenemos Retreat Center near West Chester, Pa
If you were looking to get away with your sweetie but can’t afford or justify a weekend where you stay overnight someplace, what about a yoga workshop where you do romantic poses for couples or partners? Before you go just make sure it is a workshop suitable for beginners and that it is not overly physically demanding. Some types of partner yoga are actually acrobatic yoga where you are holding up all your partner’s weight on your feet and you are actually flying them. I wouldn’t recommend this for those that are not athletic or are not seasoned yoga students since you need a fair amount of body awareness in order to balance another person on your feet.
Make sure the poses are gentle and beginner friendly. Most first time yoga students have a fair amount of anxiety and fear before their first yoga class so it is always better to have a class that feel gentle and accessible so that the yoga newbie won’t be freaked out at all the weird contortions that some very advanced yogis can get their body in.
Many of the romantic poses for couples let you find a deeper sense of kinesthetic support from your partner and you will find you can move through fear and issues of mistrust and start to open up to support. It can be a very emotionally vulnerable experience so you would not want to do these kinds of poses on a first or second date but with someone that you are already committed to since you will explore more depth in your connection together that might not be appropriate for someone you don’t know that well. Most couples yoga classes will also have guided Thai massage lessons as well which can be so nurturing and healing.
My favorite type of snow, beautifully covers the grass and trees with a light blanket.
For free articles about yoga mailed once a month, email info at synergybyjasmine dot com with “Request Yoga Tips” in headline.
Jasmine Kaloudis teaches many yoga and retreats near Philadelphia as well as romantic poses for couples and is the author of the 100 best spiritual websites list.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
- Sleeping with Your Enemy or Shooting Your Enemy? My Review of SaveTheMarriage.com
- 1000 Questions for Couples Before You Say “I Do”
by Jasmine | Mar 1, 2012 | Couples Retreat, Couples Yoga, Date Night, Meditation, Spirituality, Yoga Retreat
Are you looking for retreats close to Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey for Yoga, Spirituality and Meditation?
The morning Tai Chi by the steamy Lake at The Omega Institute
There the Omega Institute for those looking for retreats close to Philadelphia. The Omega Institute is particularly close to my heart since this is where I met my now-hunky, hottie hubby about 4 years ago. Omega, another non-profit, is located in Rhinebeck, NY, a few hours outside of NYC. Interesting factoid, Rhinebeck is also where Chelsea Clinton got married. Michael and I first met in the cafeteria. I was in a foul mood, not wanting to interact, just wanted to be a recluse and focus on my spiritual growth program that I was taking that weekend. I think it was called ” Living Courageously”.
We had an uneventful first meeting. We just talked about the usual subjects that people that don’t know each other well talk about like where we are from, where we work and why we came to Omega. I was actually recovering from a bad breakup and didn’t want to disclose that to this stranger so I was fairly tight-lipped in our first few conversations.
We kept running into each other at Omega…. just walking around the beautiful grounds or at the cafeteria. Before one of the Saturday night concerts we ended up just snuggling on a hammock while watching the fireflies light up the moonlight sky. It was quite a memorable first “date”. I wonder how many people can say that just were on a hammock snuggling while watching fireflies on their first date.
Founded in 1977, Omega is a center for wellness, spiritual and personal growth. Omega offers a bunch of educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal, spiritual and social change. It is located beautiful Hudson Valley. If you are in NYC, then I recommend traveling by train since the train will have such a stunning view of the Hudson.
Omega has been a pioneer in exploring, teaching, and embracing new ideas, focusing on health and wellness, personal spiritual growth, and self-awareness. According to their website, Omega offers, “A journey of personal growth and spiritual development also contributes to the wholeness and balance of the larger community and beyond. At Omega, we like to say we are changing the world one person at a time.”
There are a few places that I would recommend. The Himalayan Institute is probably the closest. The Himalayan Institute is located in northeastern Pennsylvania, 6 miles north of the town of Honesdale in the heart of the rolling hills of the Poconos. New York City and Philadelphia area bout 3 – 4 hours drive by car. (Add an extra hour driving time during rush hour.) The total air/ground trip may be faster and less expensive to the New York airports than to the Scranton airport. It’s kind of near the corner of Pennsylvania where New Jersey and New York state are.
The Himalayan Institute has program for yoga, meditation, spirituality, and holistic health. It’s actually a non-profit, international organization and it’s mission is dedicated to serving humanity through educational, spiritual, and humanitarian programs. It has spiritual heritage that unites East and West with spirituality and science, and ancient wisdom and modern technology. There are a few programs on it’s website that you can also peruse if you can’t make the trek out there.
There are quite a few programs that are free if you are a Premium member which costs $300 a year. If you live within 2-3 hours of the Institute and can make room in your calender every few months then it is probably worth it to just become a premium member.
They have all kinds of educational programs and services and you can actually live at the Institute for a short or long term study. A yoga teacher that taught at one of the studios I also taught at, lived at the Himalayan Institute after her divorce to study yoga and meditation. It was quite a transformative and cleansing experience. You can also just come for a day workshop or weekend workshop and there are a fair amount of online and also correspondence courses.
Their goals is to offer programs that reflect,” The art of joyful living lies at the core of the Institute’s teachings. All of our programs lead to this common goal – living a peaceful and happy life.”
RECENT BLOG POSTS
- Sleeping with Your Enemy or Shooting Your Enemy? My Review of SaveTheMarriage.com
- 1000 Questions for Couples Before You Say “I Do”
- Spiritual Couples Retreats & Yoga Retreats in Pennslyvania – Tantra near NYC
- Tantra Yoga in Philadelphia – Yoga for Couples – Doing It Together
- Romantic Ideas, Romance Tips and Top 9 Romance Sites for the Love-Challenge
- Yoga for Couples – Sexuality and Spirituality Merge in Yoga Poses and Couples Meditation
- Yoga, Spas and Other Romantic Ideas from Philadelphia and Romantic Retreat
by Jasmine | Feb 14, 2012 | Couples Yoga, Date Night
Retreats and Yoga Like Kripalu in PA
Couples retreats in PA are places where you can connect soulfully, romantically and holistically with your beloved. Some of the spiritual centers where I would love to do a couples retreat in PA are at the Himalayan Institute since there are so many incredible spiritual programs there. I went to Kripalu in Wetern MA a few years ago and it was such a pivotal experience for me. I was looking for places like Kripalu in PA.
A yoga teacher that I know well had gone there after she was recovering from a painful divorce and that is where she embraced yoga to heal her heart, body and soul. She was going through some pretty painful and raw feelings and that is where she was able to feel and give birth to a new life that did not include her ex husband.
I always loved the idea of going to Bedford Springs in Pennsylvania for a couples retreat in PA since it has hot mineral springs there. I am such a sucker for hot mineral springs. I have a lot of aches, pains and body tightness and when I go into a hot mineral spring that is when I feel completely renewed by all the nourishing minerals that are in the water. I remember the first time I went to a hot springs was in California, it was called Orr springs and I was there with my sweetie. There were flowers and trees everywhere and there was lots of space for us to just enjoy nature and enjoy each other. My jewelry turned a different color after soaking in the water for a while since the minerals turn metal into a different color.
We did a staring meditation when were were in the springs on our retreat. We just tuned into each other on a very deep level at this place.
Also in Pennsylvania, we went to Temenos in West Chester, PA. Temenos means “sacred space” in ancient Greek and it is a place that is very near and very dear to our hearts. We have had some of our own romantic retreats there with other couples. It is quite rustic inside of the old farmhouse there. It’s so rustic that we end up killing a few bugs when we are in the retreat house. I always pray that a bug will not crawl up on anyone when we are doing our staring meditation since that would be so disruptive. We also do a lot of yoga for couples together because we believe that the couple that sweats together stay together.
This feeling of being one entity is what leads to bonding and that makes the physical act of love a natural extension from this energetic bonding that occurs in romantic couples classes. You start to drop into almost a trance and you get so attuned to your partner that you almost feel at one with the ether of the universe at this point.
It ends up being a very bonding and buoyant time and we all cuddle and nuzzle together by the fire when we are done. I think the bonding that happens within the group also had a role in making for a memorable time as well as the bonding and the staring meditation that happens with the couple.
What have been some of your favorite retreat places? What kinds of activities do you like? Do you have to get spa treatments? Does it have to be someplace exotic and tropical? Does it have to have yoga and also meditation? Do all the activities have to be with your significant other?
Do you need to connect with others that are also on the retreat or do you just want to be focused on yourself and your partner? Write your answers on our Facebook page.
RECENT BLOG POSTS
- Yoga Couples Retreat near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Videos
- Spiritual Couples Retreats & Yoga Retreats in Pennslyvania – Tantra near NYC
- Tantra Yoga in Philadelphia – Yoga for Couples – Doing It Together
- 1000 Questions for Couples Before You Say “I Do”
